U.S. patent application number 10/548317 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-24 for printing controller and printing control program.
Invention is credited to Kazuaki Koie, Hajime Okochi, Akihiro Sawada, Hideo Ueno.
Application Number | 20060187492 10/548317 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33095139 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060187492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koie; Kazuaki ; et
al. |
August 24, 2006 |
Printing controller and printing control program
Abstract
A print control device (employed for printing a character string
including characters and/or symbols on a plurality of labels
arranged on a long tape-like print medium along the length of the
print medium) comprises: character string storage means for storing
a character string to be printed; separating point detecting means
for detecting one or more separating points in the character string
stored in the character string storage means based on a separation
condition as a particular character string arrangement condition;
and character string separating means for letting character
strings, obtained by separating the character string stored in the
character string storage means at the separating points detected by
the separating point detecting means, be separately printed on
different labels on the print medium.
Inventors: |
Koie; Kazuaki; (Aichi-ken,
JP) ; Ueno; Hideo; (Aichi-ken, JP) ; Okochi;
Hajime; (Aichi-ken, JP) ; Sawada; Akihiro;
(Aichi-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Family ID: |
33095139 |
Appl. No.: |
10/548317 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
March 25, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/04236 |
371 Date: |
September 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/3.31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 2/16541 20130101;
G06K 15/022 20130101; B41J 3/4075 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/003.31 |
International
Class: |
B41C 1/04 20060101
B41C001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 27, 2003 |
JP |
2003-089175 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A print control device employed for printing a character string
including characters and/or symbols on a plurality of labels
arranged on a long tape-like print medium along the length of the
print medium, comprising: a character string memory which stores a
character string to be printed; a separating point detecting unit
that detects one or more separating points in the character string
stored in the character string memory based on a separation
condition as a particular character string arrangement condition;
and a character string separating unit that lets character strings,
obtained by separating the character string stored in the character
string memory at the separating points detected by the separating
point detecting unit, be separately printed on different labels on
the print medium.
22. The print control device according to claim 21, further
comprising: a separation condition memory that stores a particular
character string or a particular character string attribute as the
separation condition; and an alteration unit which alters memory
contents of the separation condition memory.
23. The print control device according to claim 21, further
comprising: a separation condition memory that stores at least one
selected from an editing code, a single character, a particular
character string and a particular character string attribute as the
separation condition; and an alteration unit which alters memory
contents of the separation condition memory.
24. The print control device according to claim 21, wherein the
character string separating unit is capable of changing positions
of the character strings, obtained by the separation at the
separating points detected based on the separation condition, on
the print medium.
25. The print control device according to claim 21, wherein the
separation condition in the character string indicates the
separating points in the character string and a characters and/or
symbol represented by the separation condition itself is printed on
the labels.
26. The print control device according to claim 21, wherein the
separation condition in the character string is used exclusively
for indicating the separating points in the character string and no
character or symbol represented by the separation condition itself
is printed on the labels.
27. A computer program product for printing a character string
including characters and/or symbols on a plurality of labels
arranged on a long tape-like print medium along the length of the
print medium, the computer program product comprising
computer-readable instructions that cause a computer to function
as: a character string memory that stores a character string to be
printed; a separating point detecting unit that detects one or more
separating points in the character string stored in the character
string memory based on a separation condition as a particular
character string arrangement condition; and a character string
separating unit that lets character strings, obtained by separating
the character string stored in the character string memory at the
separating points detected by the separating point detecting unit,
be separately printed on different labels on the print medium.
28. The computer program product according to claim 27, further
comprising computer-readable instructions that cause the computer
to function as: a separation condition memory that stores a
particular character string or a particular character string
attribute as the separation condition; and an alteration unit which
alters memory contents of the separation condition memory.
29. The computer program product according to claim 27, further
comprising computer-readable instructions that cause the computer
to function as: a separation condition memory that stores at least
one selected from an editing code, a single character, a particular
character string and a particular character string attribute as the
separation condition; and an alteration unit which alters memory
contents of the separation condition memory.
30. The computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the
character string separating unit is capable of changing positions
of the character strings, obtained by the separation at the
separating points detected based on the separation condition, on
the print medium.
31. The computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the
separation condition in the character string indicates the
separating points in the character string and a character and/or
symbol represented by the separation condition itself is printed on
the labels.
32. The computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the
separation condition in the character string is used exclusively
for indicating the separating points in the character string and no
character or symbol represented by the separation condition itself
is printed on the labels.
33. A print control method employed for printing a character string
including characters and/or symbols on a plurality of labels
arranged on a long tape-like print medium along the length of the
print medium, comprising the steps of: storing a character string
to be printed; detecting a particular separation condition in the
stored character string; separating the character string based on
the detected separation condition; and separately printing
character strings obtained by the separation on different labels on
the print medium.
34. The print control method according to claim 33, further
comprising the step of storing a particular character string or a
particular character string attribute as the separation
condition.
35. The print control method according to claim 34, further
comprising the step of altering the stored separation
condition.
36. The print control method according to claim 33, further
comprising the step of storing at least one selected from an
editing code, a single character, a particular character string and
a particular character string attribute as the separation
condition.
37. The print control method according to claim 36, further
comprising the step of altering the stored separation
condition.
38. The print control method according to claim 33, further
comprising the step of changing positions of the character strings,
obtained by the separation at one or more separating points
detected based on the separation condition, on the print
medium.
39. The print control method according to claim 33, wherein the
separation condition in the character string indicates one or more
separating points in the character string and a characters and/or
symbol represented by the separation condition itself is printed on
the labels.
40. The print control method according to claim 33, wherein the
separation condition in the character string is used exclusively
for indicating one or more separating points in the character
string and no character or symbol represented by the separation
condition itself is printed on the labels.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a print control device
which is used for printing a character string including characters
and/or symbols on a plurality of labels arranged along the length
of a long tape-like print medium.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A tape printing device capable of printing a character
string including characters and/or symbols on a long tape-like
print medium has been described in Japanese Patent Provisional
Publication No. HEI05-177905. The tape printing device of the
Publication has a line feed function for separating a character
string (including characters arranged in a tape lengthwise
direction) into a plurality of lines inside a block (an area
partitioned by imaginary lines extending in a tape width direction)
and a block feed function for separating a character string
(including characters arranged in the tape lengthwise direction)
into a plurality of adjoining blocks arranged in the tape
lengthwise direction. By the combined use of the line feed function
and the block feed function, enhanced expressiveness can be given
to the character string printed on the tape.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In recent years, long tape-like print media having a
plurality of labels arranged in a lengthwise direction (e.g. the
so-called die cut tape made of a print sheet having dividing lines
(for dividing labels as the targets of printing from other
peripheral areas) formed thereon and a strippable sheet which are
stacked up to be strippable) and tape printing devices capable of
printing a character string including characters and/or symbols on
the labels on such tape-like print media have been on the market.
However, even a tape printing device having the aforementioned line
feed function and block feed function is not capable of separating
a character string into a plurality of character strings and
printing the separated character strings on different labels
arranged on die cut tape, respectively. Therefore, in order to
print different character strings on different labels by use of
such a tape printing device, the user has to repeat an operation
necessary for one label (e.g. inputting a character string to be
printed on a label and pressing a print key) for the number of
labels. Such repetitive work is very troublesome to the user.
[0004] It is therefore the primary object of the present invention
to provide a print control device, a print control method and a
print control program making it possible to print character strings
on a plurality of labels (arranged on a long tape-like print medium
along the length of the print medium) with a smaller number of
operations.
[0005] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a print control device employed for printing a
character string including characters and/or symbols on a plurality
of labels arranged on a long tape-like print medium along the
length of the print medium, comprising: character string storage
means for storing a character string to be printed; separating
point detecting means for detecting one or more separating points
in the character string stored in the character string storage
means based on a separation condition as a particular character
string arrangement condition; and character string separating means
for letting character strings, obtained by separating the character
string stored in the character string storage means at the
separating points detected by the separating point detecting means,
be separately printed on different labels on the print medium.
[0006] By the above configuration, it becomes possible to print
character strings, obtained by separating the character string
stored in the character string storage means at the separating
positions detected based on the separation condition, on different
labels respectively. Therefore, after the character string to be
printed on a plurality of labels has been inputted in a lump, the
user has only to perform a print trigger operation (e.g. pressing
of a print key) once in order to complete the printing on a
plurality of labels, by which the operation load on the user can be
reduced significantly.
[0007] In this specification, the "separation condition" may
include the existence of a particular character or symbol, a
sequence of characters/symbols arranged in a prescribed order, etc.
The "separating positions detected based on the separation
condition" can include a position immediately before or after a
particular character or symbol, a position a prescribed number of
characters away from a particular character or symbol, a position
immediately before or after a sequence of characters/symbols
arranged in a prescribed order, a position a prescribed number of
characters away from a sequence of characters/symbols arranged in a
prescribed order, a position immediately before or after an n-th
(n: prescribed number) character in a sequence of
characters/symbols arranged in a prescribed order, etc.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a print control program employed for printing a
character string including characters and/or symbols on a plurality
of labels arranged on a long tape-like print medium along the
length of the print medium. The print control program lets a
computer function as: character string storage means for storing a
character string to be printed; separating point detecting means
for detecting one or more separating points in the character string
stored in the character string storage means based on a separation
condition as a particular character string arrangement condition;
and character string separating means for letting character
strings, obtained by separating the character string stored in the
character string storage means at the separating points detected by
the separating point detecting means, be separately printed on
different labels on the print medium.
[0009] By the above configuration, it becomes possible to print
character strings, obtained by separating the character string
stored in the character string storage means at the separating
positions detected based on the separation condition, on different
labels respectively. Therefore, after the character string to be
printed on a plurality of labels has been inputted in a lump, the
user has only to perform a print trigger operation (e.g. pressing
of a print key) once in order to complete the printing on a
plurality of labels, by which the operation load on the user can be
reduced significantly.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a print control method employed for printing a
character string including characters and/or symbols on a plurality
of labels arranged on a long tape-like print medium along the
length of the print medium, comprising the steps of: storing a
character string to be printed; detecting a particular separation
condition in the stored character string; separating the character
string based on the detected separation condition; and separately
printing character strings obtained by the separation on different
labels on the print medium.
[0011] By the above configuration, it becomes possible to print
character strings, obtained by separating the character string
stored in the character string storage means at the separating
positions detected based on the separation condition, on different
labels respectively. Therefore, after the character string to be
printed on a plurality of labels has been inputted in a lump, the
user has only to perform a print trigger operation (e.g. pressing
of a print key) once in order to complete the printing on a
plurality of labels, by which the operation load on the user can be
reduced significantly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printing device
including an image arrangement device in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the composition of a
control system of the tape printing device of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of
printing by the tape printing device of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows an example of text data for obtaining the
printout of FIG. 3.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an overall process executed
by the tape printing device of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the details of a separation
condition setting process shown in FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the details of a print
process shown in FIG. 5.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring now to the drawings, a description will be given
in detail of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printing device 1
including a print control device in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printing
device 1 has a display 2 and a keyboard 3 which are arranged in a
front part of its top surface. The rear part of the tape printing
device 1 is provided with a cover which is openable and closable.
Inside the cover, an unshown cassette storage part, including a
thermal head 4 and a tape feed motor 5 (see FIG. 2), is placed.
[0021] The display 2 is implemented by a monochrome liquid crystal
display, for example. The keyboard 3 has text keys (used for
inputting characters to be printed), cursor keys (used for moving a
cursor), a decision key, a print key, etc. The thermal head 4 has a
number of heating elements arranged in a direction. The tape feed
motor 5 is a DC motor for rotating various rollers for feeding
print tape.
[0022] A type of print tape as the print medium used for the tape
printing device 1 is the so-called die cut tape, for example. The
die cut tape includes a long tape-like print sheet (having a print
surface (having a plurality of labels arranged in the lengthwise
direction, on which characters and/or symbols will be printed) on
its front and an adhesive material layer on its back) and a
strippable sheet (having a releasable surface processed with
silicone resin, etc.) which are stacked up to be strippable. The
die cut tape is rolled up and stored in a tape cassette. The tape
cassette is detachably loaded in the cassette storage part of the
tape printing device 1.
[0023] The die cut tape is exposed from the tape cassette on a
lateral face of the tape cassette, and the printing on each label
of the die cut tape is carried out by the thermal head 4 at the
exposing part. The die cut tape pulled out from the tape cassette
(according to the rotation of the tape feed motor 5) and printed on
by the thermal head 4 is cut by an unshown tape cutter. The die cut
tape cut off by the tape cutter is ejected from an outlet 6. Each
label (having an adhesive back surface) peeled away from the
ejected die cut tape can be stuck on an arbitrary object, article,
etc.
[0024] Another type of print tape used for the tape printing device
1 is normal long tape. The long tape is stored in a tape cassette
having substantially the same configuration as the tape cassette
for the die cut tape. The tape cassettes for the two types of print
tapes are substantially identical with each other, except for an
arrangement pattern of cylindrical concavities formed on the base
of each tape cassette.
[0025] The tape printing device 1 is equipped with a tape type
sensor 7 (see FIG. 2) having a plurality of needle-like
projections. The needle-like projections protrude from a cassette
supporting surface of the cassette storage part when no tape
cassette is in the cassette storage part. When a tape cassette is
loaded in the cassette storage part, the needle-like projections
are selectively pressed by the tape cassette and the tips of the
pressed projections withdraw to the level of the cassette
supporting surface. Since a concavity/convexity pattern made by the
pressed projections varies depending on which type of tape cassette
is loaded in the cassette storage part, the type of print tape
stored in the tape cassette loaded in the cassette storage part can
be detected based on a signal outputted by the tape type sensor
7.
[0026] On a surface of the strippable sheet of the die cut tape,
marks indicating the positions of the labels are printed. The tape
printing device 1 is equipped with a label position sensor 8 (see
FIG. 2) as an optical sensor for reading the marks. Based on
detection of the marks by the label position sensor 8, the tape
printing device 1 can correctly place the front end of each label
at a prescribed position and start the printing of the character
string from a position (on the label) a preset distance away from
the front end.
[0027] Next, the internal composition of the tape printing device 1
will be described below. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the
composition of a control system of the tape printing device 1. In
addition to the display 2, the keyboard 3, the thermal head 4, the
tape feed motor 5, the tape type sensor 7 and the label position
sensor 8 which have been explain ed above, the tape printing device
1 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11, a CPU (Central Processing
Unit) 12, a flash memory 13, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14, a
CG-ROM 15 and an I/O (input-output) interface 16 which are
connected together by a bus 17 to communicate data. The I/O
interface 16 is also connected to the keyboard 3, the tape type
sensor 7, the label position sensor 8, the display 2 (via a driver
18), the tape feed motor 5 (via a driver 19) and the thermal head 4
(via a driver 20).
[0028] The ROM 11 stores programs such as a print control program
for letting the tape printing device 1 function as the print
control device. By the combination of the programs and hardware
including the aforementioned CPU 12, the tape printing device 1
operates as described below.
[0029] The CPU 12 performs calculations according to various
commands inputted through the keyboard 3. The CPU 12 functions as a
display control unit 12a, a print control unit 12b, an image
developing unit 12c, a separation condition alteration unit 12d, a
tape identification unit 12e, etc. The details of the units 12a-12e
will be described later.
[0030] The flash memory 13 (a nonvolatile memory allowing data
writing and deletion by the user) functions as a separation
condition storage unit 13a. The separation condition storage unit
13a stores a condition for separating the character string
(separation condition) which has been altered by the separation
condition alteration unit 12d. The separation condition may include
the existence of a prescribed symbol such as a separator (a line
feed symbol, a block feed symbol, a comma (,), a slash (/), etc.)
and a bar code symbol, the existence of a sequence of regularly
increasing/decreasing numbers, the existence of a plurality of
consecutive bar codes, etc.
[0031] In the RAM 14, a text buffer 14a and an image buffer 14b are
formed. The text buffer 14a stores text data inputted from the
keyboard 3 as character codes, together with the font type,
character size, etc. of each character. The image buffer 14b stores
bitmap data obtained by developing each character code stored in
the text buffer 14a by the image developing unit 12c.
[0032] The CG-ROM 15 stores font data of characters (included in a
prepared character set) as outline fonts.
[0033] Here, each unit 12a-12f of the CPU 12 will be explained in
detail. The display control unit 12a controls character display on
the display 2 by outputting a display signal to the driver 18
according to the bitmap data stored in the image buffer 14b.
[0034] The print control unit 12b controls the tape printing
employing the thermal head 4 and the tape feed motor 5, by
outputting a motor driving signal to the driver 19 while outputting
a print signal to the driver 20 according to the bitmap data stored
in the image buffer 14b in sync with the motor driving signal.
[0035] The image developing unit 12c converts the character codes
stored in the text buffer 14a into the bitmap data by referring to
the font data stored in the CG-ROM 15.
[0036] The image developing unit 12c includes a separating point
detecting unit 12c1. The separating point detecting unit 12c1
checks whether the character codes stored in the text buffer 14a
include a point satisfying the separation condition stored in the
separation condition storage unit 13a or not. If a point satisfying
the separation condition is found, the separating point detecting
unit 12c1 detects a separating point based on the point satisfying
the separation condition. In this embodiment, the point satisfying
the separation condition is detected as the separating point.
[0037] The print control unit 12b includes a character string
separating unit 12b1. The character string separating unit 12b1
separates the character string (corresponding to the character
codes stored in the text buffer 14a) at the separating points
detected by the separating point detecting unit 12c1 while
referring to a signal from the label position sensor 8 and thereby
carries out print control for printing the separated character
strings on different labels respectively. In other words, the
character string separating unit 12b1 successively outputs the
bitmap data (obtained by developing each character of the character
string into an image) from the image buffer 14b to the driver 20
while separating the bitmap data at the separating points.
[0038] The character string separating unit 12b1 is capable of
changing the positions of the separated character strings (obtained
by separating the original character string at the separating
points) on the labels, based on the signal from the label position
sensor 8. For example, the character string separating unit 12b1 is
capable of changing the space between character strings printed on
the die cut tape depending on the label pitch, changing the
position of each character string on each label, etc. by which the
tape printing device 1 can cope with various types of labels
flexibly.
[0039] Incidentally, the separating point detecting unit 12c1 and
the character string separating unit 12b1 function only when the
tape identification unit 12e judges that the tape cassette loaded
in the tape printing device 1 contains die cut tape. Therefore, the
units 12c1 and 12b1 do not function when the tape identification
unit 12e judges that the tape cassette contains normal long
tape.
[0040] The separation condition alteration unit 12d writes the
separation condition designated by the user into the separation
condition storage unit 13a. When a separation condition has already
been stored in the separation condition storage unit 13a, the
separation condition alteration unit 12d overwrites the stored
condition with the separation condition designated by the user.
[0041] The tape identification unit 12e judges whether the tape
cassette loaded in the tape printing device 1 contains normal long
tape or die cut tape based on a signal supplied from the tape type
sensor 7.
[0042] Here, a specific example of the label printing by the tape
printing device 1 will be explained. On the print sheet of die cut
tape 31 shown in FIG. 3, long and narrow labels 32a, 32b and 32c
are arranged along the length of the die cut tape 31. On the label
32a, two lines, including a line of characters "ABC" and a line of
bar code symbol, are printed. On the label 32b, two lines including
a line of characters "DEF" and a line of bar code symbol are
printed. On the label 32c, two lines including a line of characters
"GHI" and a line of bar code symbol are printed.
[0043] In order to achieve the printout shown in FIG. 3 using the
die cut tape 31, the separating point detecting unit 12c1 has to
detect a point between the bar code symbol following the characters
"ABC" and the characters "DEF", a point between the bar code symbol
following the characters "DEF" and the characters "GHI", and a
point between the bar code symbol following the characters "GHI"
and the subsequent character string, as the separating points.
[0044] For this purpose, the separation condition storage unit 13a
in this embodiment has stored a separation condition: the existence
of a bar code symbol, and the separating point detecting unit 12c1
detects a point just after each bar code symbol as a separating
point. In this case, the text buffer 14a of the RAM 14 has stored
text data "ABC(CR)&DEF(CR)&GHI(CR)&" shown in FIG. 4.
In the text data of FIG. 4, the characters "A", "B", "C", "D", "E",
"F", "G", "H" and "I" denote character codes of corresponding
characters respectively, the symbol "(CR)" denotes a character code
meaning a line feed, and the symbol "&" denotes a character
code meaning a bar code symbol.
[0045] When the code "(CR)" is detected in the character string,
the image developing unit 12c starts a new line at the point. When
the symbol "&" is detected in the character string by the
separating point detecting unit 12c1, the character string
separating unit 12b1 carries out the print control while referring
to the signal from the label position sensor 8 so that a character
string till the detected symbol "&" will be printed on a label
and a character string starting just after the symbol "&" will
be printed on another label. Consequently, when a print key of the
keyboard 3 is pressed in a state in which the text data of FIG. 4
has been stored in the text buffer 14a, the three labels 32a, 32b
and 32c shown in FIG. 3 are obtained.
[0046] In the following, the operation of the tape printing device
1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an overall
process executed by the tape printing device 1. When the power of
the tape printing device 1 is turned on, the whole tape printing
device 1 is initialized in step S1 (hereinafter abbreviated as
"S1", ditto for the following steps). Specifically, the operation
check and initialization of the CPU 12, the RAM 14 and the I/O
interface 16, the operation check of the display 2 and the thermal
head 4 connected to the I/O interface 16, and the initialization of
hardware are carried out. If no abnormality is found in the
operation check and initialization, each functional unit and data
stored in the RAM 14 are initialized. After the initialization is
finished, an operation screen is displayed on the display 2 and
thereafter the process advances to S2.
[0047] In S2, the CPU 12 waits for a key input by the user. In this
step, the user can operate the tape printing device 1 (e.g.
inputting text data to be stored in the text buffer 14a) by making
key inputs to the keyboard 3 while seeing the operation screen on
the display 2. The tape printing device 1 after the initialization
stays on standby allowing text input, and the user can input
characters and symbols to be printed by use of the text keys on the
keyboard 3. Even in the input standby state, the user can call
various functions by pressing functions keys such as the print key.
When a key input is made by the user (S2: YES), a key code
corresponding to the key input is stored in the RAM 14 and
thereafter the process advances to S3.
[0048] In S3, whether the key pressed in the key input of S2 is a
text input key or not is judged based on the key code corresponding
to the key input. Here, the "text" means not only characters
(alphabetical letters, kanji characters, Japanese syllabary
characters, etc.) but also symbols such as the bar code symbols. If
the pressed key is a text input key (S3: YES), the process advances
to S4 and a text input/display process is executed. The text input
process is a process for figuring out a character code
corresponding to the key code stored in S2 and storing the
character code in the text buffer 14a. The display process is a
process for letting the image developing unit 12c develop the
character code newly stored in the text buffer 14a, writing bitmap
data (having a size suitable for display resolution of the display
2) obtained by the image developing unit 12c into the image buffer
14b, and letting the newly inputted character be displayed on the
display 2 under the control of the display control unit 12a. By the
display process, a newly inputted character is displayed at the
right of an already-inputted character string on the display 2 each
time when a new character is inputted. After the text input/display
process of S4 is finished, the process returns to S2 and the CPU 12
waits for a key input by the user.
[0049] If the key pressed in S2 is not a text input key (S3: NO),
the process advances to S5 and whether the key pressed in S2 is a
separation setting key or not is judged. If the pressed key is the
separation setting key (S5: YES), the process advances to S6 and a
separation condition setting process is executed.
[0050] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the details of the separation
condition setting process. In the first step S21 of the separation
condition setting process, a separation condition inputting screen
is displayed on the display 2. In the next S22, the CPU 12 waits
for a key input by the user. The user makes a key input through the
keyboard 3 while seeing the separation condition inputting screen
on the display 2. When a key input is made (S22: YES), the process
advances to S23 and whether the key pressed in S22 corresponds to a
character or symbol forming a valid separation condition or not is
judged. For example, the inputted character or symbol may be judged
not to form a valid separation condition when the pressed key
corresponds to an alphabetical letter.
[0051] If the inputted character or symbol is judged to form a
valid separation condition (S23: YES), the process advances to S24
and the inputted character or symbol is stored in the RAM 14.
Thereafter, the process returns to S22. On the other hand, if the
inputted character or symbol is judged not to form a valid
separation condition (S23: NO), the process advances to S25.
[0052] In S25, whether the key pressed in S22 is a separation
condition completion key or not is judged. If the pressed key is
the separation condition completion key (S25: YES), a character
string which has been stored in the RAM 14 so far (forming a valid
separation condition) is stored in the separation condition storage
unit 13a (S26). In this step, when another separation condition has
already been stored in the separation condition storage unit 13a,
the stored separation condition is overwritten with the new
separation condition. On the other hand, if the pressed key is not
the separation condition completion key (S25: NO), the key input is
judged to be invalid (S27) and the process returns to S22. By the
above process, the user can store an optimum separation condition
(suitable for the contents of printing) in the separation condition
storage unit 13a.
[0053] Returning to FIG. 5, if the key pressed in S2 is not the
separation setting key (S5: NO), the process advances to S7 and
whether the key pressed in S2 is the print key or not is judged. If
the pressed key is the print key (S7: YES), the process advances to
S8, in which a print image is generated and a print process is
executed. In S8, all the character codes stored in the text buffer
14a are developed by the image developing unit 12c into bitmap data
(having a size suitable for print resolution of the thermal head
4), the bitmap data is written into the image buffer 14b, and the
printing of the bitmap data is executed by the thermal head 4 and
the tape feed motor 5 under the control of the print control unit
12b. By the process of FIG. 8, a strip of print tape, on which all
the characters stored in the image buffer 14b have been printed, is
ejected from the outlet 6. After the print process of S8 is
finished, the process returns to S2 and the CPU 12 waits for a key
input by the user.
[0054] If the key pressed in S2 is not the print key (S7: NO), the
process advances to S9 and other processes are executed. The "other
processes" include processes corresponding to other function keys,
processes corresponding to the cursor keys, etc. When the "other
processes" are finished, the process returns to S2 and the CPU 12
waits for a key input by the user. The control system is turned off
when a power switch of the tape printing device 1 is turned
"OFF".
[0055] Next, the details of the print process of S8 will be
described. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the print process.
[0056] In the first step S31 of the print process, whether a tape
cassette has been loaded in the tape printing device 1 or not is
judged by the tape identification unit 12e based on the signal from
the tape type sensor 7. If no tape cassette has been loaded yet
(S31: NO), the process advances to S32 and the display control unit
12a displays a message (requesting the user to load a tape cassette
in the tape printing device 1) on the display 2. If a tape cassette
has already been loaded (S31: YES), the tape identification unit
12e judges whether the tape contained in the loaded tape cassette
is die cut tape or not based on the signal from the tape type
sensor 7 (S33). If the tape is die cut tape (S33: YES), the process
advances to S34.
[0057] In S34, one of the character codes stored in the text buffer
14a is read out and the character code is converted by the image
developing unit 12c into bitmap data by referring to the font data
stored in the CG-ROM 15. The bitmap data is stored in the image
buffer 14b of the RAM 14.
[0058] In the next S35, whether a separating point in the character
string was detected by the separating point detecting unit 12c1
(when the character code was read out in S34) or not is judged. If
a separating point was detected (S35: YES), the process advances to
S36. In S36, after confirming that the front end of a label has
already been placed at the prescribed position (based on the signal
from the label position sensor 8), the character string separating
unit 12b1 outputs the bitmap data stored in the image buffer 14b to
the driver 20 which drives the thermal head 4. The bitmap data
outputted in this step corresponds to character codes sandwiched
between two separating points (or sandwiched between a separating
symbol and the front/rear end of the character string), such as the
characters "DEF" and the subsequent bar code symbol in the example
of FIG. 3. By letting the print control unit 12b control the tape
feed motor 5 to rotate in sync with the character string separating
unit 12b1 outputting the bitmap data, a character string is printed
on one label. After S36, the bitmap data stored in the image buffer
14b is discarded.
[0059] In the next S37, the tape is fed by the tape feed motor 5
until the front end of the next label (immediately on the upstream
side of the label printed on in S36) is detected by the label
position sensor 8, in order to place the front end of the next
label at the prescribed position. Thereafter, the process returns
to S34.
[0060] If no separating point was detected when the character code
was read out in S34 (S35: NO), the process advances to S38. In S38,
whether the end of the text data stored in the text buffer 14a was
detected in the reading of a character code in S34 or not is
judged. If the data end has not been detected (S38: NO), the
process returns to S34.
[0061] If the data end has been detected (S38: YES), the process
advances to S39. In S39, after confirming that the front end of the
next label has already been placed at the prescribed position
(based on the signal from the label position sensor 8), the
character string separating unit 12b1 outputs the bitmap data
stored in the image buffer 14b (corresponding to character codes
sandwiched between the last separating position and the rear end of
the character string stored in the text buffer 14a) to the driver
20 which drives the thermal head 4. By letting the print control
unit 12b control the tape feed motor 5 to rotate in sync with the
character string separating unit 12b1 outputting the bitmap data, a
character string is printed on one label.
[0062] In S33, if the tape contained in the loaded tape cassette is
not die cut tape but normal long tape (S33: NO), the process
advances to S40. In S40, all the character codes stored in the text
buffer 14a are read out and the character codes are converted by
the image developing unit 12c into bitmap data by referring to the
font data stored in the CG-ROM 15. Since the separating point
detecting unit 12c1 does not function in this step as mentioned
above, the character string stored in the text buffer 14a is not
separated at all even when the character string includes a
separating position satisfying the separation condition.
[0063] The bitmap data obtained by the above conversion is stored
in the image buffer 14b of the RAM 14. Subsequently, the print
control unit 12b outputs all the bitmap data stored in the image
buffer 14b to the driver 20 which drives the thermal head 4. By
letting the print control unit 12b control the tape feed motor 5 to
rotate in sync with the outputting of the bitmap data, the
character string is printed on one label.
[0064] As described above, by the embodiment, a plurality of
character strings, obtained by separating the character string
stored in the text buffer 14a at the separating points detected
based on the separation condition, can be separately printed on
different labels on die cut tape. Therefore, after the character
string to be printed on a plurality of labels has been inputted in
a lump, the user has only to press the print key once in order to
complete the printing on a plurality of labels, by which the
operation load on the user is reduced significantly.
[0065] The type of tape (die cut tape or normal long tape) is
automatically judged, and the separation of the character string
and the printing on a plurality of labels are carried out only when
the tape contained in the tape cassette is die cut tape. Thus,
irrespective of whether the tape to be printed on is die cut tape
or normal long tape, printing suitable for the inputted character
string and the type of the loaded tape can be performed
automatically, without the need of any particular operation by the
user to the tape printing device 1.
[0066] Further, since the separating point detecting unit 12c1 and
the character string separating unit 12b1 are activated only after
the loaded tape is identified as die cut tape, printing of a
plurality of character strings (obtained by separating the original
character string at separating points) on normal long tape can be
prevented from occurring, by which wastage of tape due to erroneous
tape loading is eliminated.
[0067] While a description has been given above of a preferred
embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the present
invention is not to be restricted by the particular illustrative
embodiment and a variety of modifications, design changes, etc. are
possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
invention described in the appended claims. For example, while the
bar code symbols are employed as label feed symbols in the above
embodiment, it is also possible to employ other characters or
symbols as the label feed symbols. As a modification of the above
embodiment, the tape printing device may also be configured to
regard a sequence of characters/symbols arranged in a prescribed
order as the label feed symbol. Further, not only existing
characters/symbols but also a character string exclusively for the
label feed may be employed as the label feed symbol.
[0068] While the tape printing device in the above embodiment
detects the separating positions by reading the character codes
stored in the text buffer 14a one by one, the tape printing device
may also be configured to read all the character codes from the
text buffer 14a in a lump, convert the character codes in the image
buffer 14b and store obtained data in the image buffer 14b,
thereafter detect the separating positions, and carry out the
separation into a plurality of character strings. In addition, the
rewriting of the separation condition by the user may also be left
out in the tape printing device.
[0069] In an aspect of the present invention, the print control
device is capable of printing not only on die cut tape (including a
strippable sheet and a print sheet in the same shape which are
bonded together) but also on label tape in which a plurality of
labels are simply arranged on a strippable sheet along the length
of the strippable sheet.
[0070] While the print control device in the above embodiment is
installed in the tape printing device 1 capable of printing both on
die cut tape and on normal long tape, in an aspect of the present
invention, the print control device may also be installed in a tape
printing device designed to print on die cut tape only. In an
aspect of the present invention, the print control device is not
necessarily built in a tape printing device but can also be
implemented by a general-purpose computer.
[0071] As described above, by the embodiments in accordance with
the present invention, after the character string to be printed on
a plurality of labels has been inputted in a lump, the user has
only to perform a print trigger operation (e.g. pressing of the
print key) once in order to complete the printing on a plurality of
labels, by which the operation load on the user can be reduced
significantly.
[0072] In an embodiment of the present invention, the print control
device may further comprise: separation condition storage means for
storing a particular character string or a particular character
string attribute as the separation condition; and alteration means
for altering memory contents of the separation condition storage
means.
[0073] By the above configuration, the user is allowed to select a
suitable character string or character string attribute as the
separation condition depending on the purpose. Here, the
"attribute" means a characteristic of a character such as being an
alphabetical letter, being a half-size character (one-byte
character), being a bar code symbol, etc.
[0074] In an embodiment of the present invention, the print control
device may further comprise: separation condition storage means for
storing at least one selected from an editing code, a single
character, a particular character string and a particular character
string attribute as the separation condition; and alteration means
for altering memory contents of the separation condition storage
means.
[0075] By the above configuration, the user is allowed to select at
least one of a suitable editing code, a suitable single character,
a suitable character string and a suitable character string
attribute as the separation condition depending on the purpose.
[0076] In an embodiment of the present invention, the character
string separating means may be configured to be able to change
positions of the character strings, obtained by the separation at
the separating points detected based on the separation condition,
on the print medium. By such a configuration, each character string
obtained by the separation can be printed at a proper position on
the print medium.
[0077] In an embodiment of the present invention, the separation
condition in the character string may be a condition indicating the
separating points in the character string, and a character and/or
symbol represented by the separation condition itself may be
printed on the labels.
[0078] In an embodiment of the present invention, the separation
condition in the character string may also be a condition used
exclusively for indicating the separating points in the character
string. In this case, no character or symbol represented by the
separation condition itself is printed on the labels.
[0079] The functions of the print control devices described above
can also be implemented by programs which are executed by a
computer. Such programs, capable of letting a computer function as
the above print control devices, achieve the same effects as the
above print control devices. The programs can be delivered to the
computer by storing them in a removable record medium (CD-ROM, FD,
MO, etc.) or a fixed record medium (hard disk, etc.), or via a
communication network (e.g. the Internet) by use of a wired or
wireless telecommunication means.
[0080] In an embodiment of the present invention, the print control
method may further comprise the step of storing a particular
character string or a particular character string attribute as the
separation condition.
[0081] In an embodiment of the present invention, the print control
method may further comprise the step of altering the stored
separation condition.
[0082] In an embodiment of the present invention, the print control
method may further comprise the step of storing at least one
selected from an editing code, a single character, a particular
character string and a particular character string attribute as the
separation condition.
[0083] In an embodiment of the present invention, the print control
method may further comprise the step of changing positions of the
character strings, obtained by the separation at one or more
separating points detected based on the separation condition, on
the print medium.
[0084] In a print control method in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the separation condition in the character
string may be a condition indicating one or more separating points
in the character string, and a character and/or symbol represented
by the separation condition itself may be printed on the
labels.
[0085] In a print control method in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the separation condition in the character
string may also be a condition used exclusively for indicating one
or more separating points in the character string. In this case, no
character or symbol represented by the separation condition itself
is printed on the labels.
[0086] The above print control methods in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention achieve the same effects as
the print control devices described above.
* * * * *